Dual Immersion

Dual Immersion at Sarah Smith Primary CampusWe are excited to have a thriving Dual Immersion program here at Sarah Smith Primary Campus. The program has been a great success during our first two years, and we are excited to be in our third year during the 2018-2019 school year with DI students in kindergarten, first grade, and second grade. Our teachers, parents, and students are committed to the DI program and have built a strong community of learners committed to learning a new language and culture.

The dual language model at Sarah Smith Elementary is a cohort of participants in a 50/50 Two-Way Spanish Model. Beginning in kindergarten, we strive to have 25 native Spanish speaking students and 25 native English speaking students who will be mixed together among two homerooms. Students will then spend half of their school day in an English only speaking classroom and the other half in a Spanish only speaking classroom. The cohort of approximately 50 students will move through elementary school together from grade to grade. Students will be reassigned to a new homeroom each school year, but will stay among the 50 DI students.

We invite you to visit the APS World Language website to learn more about Dual Immersion at Sarah Smith Elementary and in Atlanta Public Schools. Please click here for additional information about Dual Immersion on the APS website. You may also contact Jessica Harron, Program Administrator at Sarah Smith Primary Campus.

Dual Language Immersion Applications 2019 - 2020The Dual Language Immersion applications for the 2019 – 2020 school will be available on or before April 1, 2019. Each year a lottery system is held for kindergarten and then again for each of the DI grade levels with available spots. The lottery will be held June 1, 2019. All applications must be turned into the school and be accompanied with a completed registration package to be considered for the lottery. This is a hard deadline, so please mark your calendars if you are interested in applying for the DI lottery. Applications will be available in the front office at Sarah Smith Primary Campus or on the APS World Languages website. Again, applications will be accepted April 1, 2019 until June 1, 2019.

The APS Dual Immersion Vision and Mission StatementVisionAPS Dual Language Immersion is a rigorous academic program that develops high linguistic and academic proficiency in two languages while simultaneously fostering positive cross-cultural attitudes.

MissionIn a caring culture of global awareness, all APS dual language immersion students will graduate biliterate AND ready for college and career.

Program GoalsThe purpose of the Dual Language Immersion program in Atlanta Public Schools is to move our students towards biliteracy through engaging instruction with inspiring teachers.

The goals of the Dual Language Immersion program are:

To equip students with the skills that will enable them to function in a language other than their own;

To develop communication skills that allow students to compete effectively in the global community;

To develop listening, speaking, reading, writing and cultural competence skills in two languages:

To develop academic proficiency in all content areas;

To use technology and other non-print sources to absorb information; and

To increase awareness of students’ own culture and appreciate the culture(s) of others.

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